[[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/{{Superman}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/smmapublicity_8662.jpg]]]][[caption-width-right:350:[[UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli Float like a butterfly]], [[SuperStrength sting like a locomotive]].]]

->"Depending on one's training and how they're used, Devil Fruit powers can become a weapon as powerful as any. I'm not like the rest of you fools, who depend solely on your powers."-->--'''Crocodile''', ''Manga/OnePiece''

Take an already abnormal character and teach them some sort of mundane skill to take their badassery UpToEleven. Got an ImaginationBasedPower? Some engineering classes might make your constructs more formidable, along with art classes to stretch the imagination. Got SuperStrength? How about some karate to avoid being UnskilledButStrong? The power and the skills involved can exist in numerous combinations, but it works to the same effect.

Compare with MundaneUtility, which is a sister trope. It may invoke cases of MundaneMadeAwesome. If the character needs trained combat skills normally rather than just for a few special circumstances, he probably FightsLikeANormal. One place to learn this sort of thing is in a SuperheroSchool, as that's usually the whole point. This trope may also help a character find ways to push the limits of their powers, perhaps even overcoming the limitations imposed by RequiredSecondaryPowers as a result of having new skills and knowledge needed to work around their power's weaknesses.----

!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'''s Hibiki gains {{Magitek}} MahouShoujo powers but not the {{Impossibly Cool Weapon}}s, flashy [[CallingYourAttacks Called Attacks]], and seemingly inherent fighting skills all the other girls have. Her powers just let her face the enemy with all the combat prowess of an ordinary middle-schooler [[spoiler:until her TrainingMontage with the resident BadassNormal puts her [[PowerFist unarmed combat]] on par with her {{BFG}}- and {{BFS}}-wielding counterparts.]]* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', this trope applies to most characters. Devil Fruits don't get stronger, users become more creative at using them and develop secondary skills to make using them better. ** To cite one example, Crocodile of the Seven Warlords of the Sea is an ElementalShapeshifter, having eaten a Devil Fruit that gives him the power to control, create, and turn into [[DishingOutDirt sand]]. He has mastered his Devil Fruit to the point that he can suck up the moisture from objects and people, leaving them as shriveled, withered husks.** Another good example is Trafalgar Law, who has the ability to connect pieces of different objects together or swap them with other pieces. To make the best use of this ability, he mastered the SwordBeam to slice things up so he can have the pieces needed to manipulate, and from a distance where most fighters cannot safely reach him. Even better, it was revealed that Law [[spoiler:used to suffer from a illness considered terminal]]. By eating the Op-Op Fruit, he could make use of its power to the fullest, having received training as a doctor. [[spoiler:He even ''cured himself of the illness using the fruit's power'']]. One could even say that the devil fruit was practically made for him.** It's eventually revealed that ''not'' adhering to this trope is the reason that normally [[NighInvulnerability Nigh-Invulnerable]] Logia fruit users rarely survive in the New World, where so many people are able to use Haki to nullify their invulnerability. If a Logia fruit user is over-reliant on said NighInvulnerability and doesn't have anything else to fall back on, they're screwed.* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', the {{Badass}} BloodKnight Kenpachi is UnskilledButStrong, using absolute brute force to beat most opponents. But when he finally faces one whom brute force is useless against, he switches to his secret weapon: ''a basic kendo swing'' that Commander Yamamoto had forced him to learn... which is so powerful it causes his opponent to '''explode'''. In chapter 520, [[spoiler:Kyouraku's first order as the new captain-commander of the Gotei 13]] is to give Kenpachi more formal training to prepare him for Vandereich's next move. [[spoiler:Soul Society's ruling council actually doesn't want Kenpachi to get any stronger because they are worried he'll be unstoppable if he decides to rebel against Soul Society. Kyouraku convinces them that they need Kenpachi to become stronger, because if they lose the current war they'll be too dead to worry about such things. Kenpachi's teacher is '''Retsu Unohana the first Kenpachi'''.]]* In ''Franchise/DragonBall'', Goku lives for some amount of time with a colony of monkeys. The reason for this is because they use their tails for almost everything they do, and Goku's tail was his biggest weakness. By the time he returns to his friends, he is just as strong with his tail as with the rest of his body.* The officers of Section 2 in in the ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'' manga get trained in martial arts, to make them more versatile when piloting their giant humanoid mecha.* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', Kotetsu spent much of his free time in high school learning how to fight without relying on his powers ([[ComesGreatResponsibility which he limited to using only to help people in trouble]]), and managed to build a reputation as an undefeated street fighter without anyone knowing he was a [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual NEXT]]. This comes in handy twenty years down the line when [[spoiler:he starts losing his powers.]]* In ''Manga/PokemonSpecial'', Yellow quickly realizes that while her powers are useful, she needs actual battling skills in order to fight the Elite Four, so she asks Green to train her.* In ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'', [[ShrinkingViolet Corona]] is a {{Golem}} [[ImprovisedGolem summoner]] and manipulator, and the most glaring weakness of those types is the [[SquishyWizard squishy summoner]] themselves. Corona knows this as much as anyone, so during the TournamentArc, she starts to take her martial arts training more seriously on the side [[spoiler:[[PeoplePuppets then uses her doll control abilities on her own trained body]], letting [[PowerCopying her copy the base form of her teammates' techniques]] and [[{{Determinator}} continue fighting even when her body should be too broken to move]]]]. This leads to a nasty surprise for [[FriendlyRival Einhart]] when she takes down her golem and tries to go for an easy KO, only to run straight into an uppercut.* In ''Manga/{{Ratman}}'', after the eponymous hero realizes that there are people out there that he can't defeat simply by being UnskilledButStrong in his transformed state, he starts working out and taking boxing lessons in his civilian identity to improve his baseline strength and skill.* Manga/{{Kinnikuman}} usually got by on luck up until the American Tour Arc. In fact, his victory over Robin Mask in the Choujin Olympics (Widely considered by all to be the turning point of his career) was mostly due to Robin being too distracted going "MyGodWhatHaveIDone" In Hawaii, he met Prince Kamehame, the former 99-time island champion. Kamehamne taught Kin his moves, including the iconic Kinniku Buster.* In one episode of ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'', Tsubomi and Erika confront a fellow classmate who knew martial arts. Turns out, the kid [[WhatTheFuAreYouDoing just copied stuff from movies]] and really didn't know how to do so. It's implied, though, they do start training earnestly when Itsuki joins the team.* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' ** In the episode "Oshawott's Lost Scalchop!", Ash helps train his Oshawott to fight without his signature weapon, the scalchop, meaning Oshawott is no longer rendered helpless when he is disarmed.** Pikachu occasionally has to fight enemies who aren't affected by his electric attacks. He had to improve his speed to beat a Raichu, and he later learned Iron Tail.* In ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'', Agnes and her troops are ordered to train the students of [[WizardingSchool Tristain Academy]] in swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. Montmorency said she didn't see the point... and then Agnes knocked her MagicWand out of her hand and twisted her arm behind her back before she could react. The students then agree to the training. Saito also takes some lessons after deciding he shouldn't be reliant on the strength, speed, and sword skills his runes give him. When he loses his powers, the sword skills disappear from his mind. * In ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'', In a nutshell, this is what makes [[spoiler:Titan Shifters]] so dangerous. Imagine fighting a fifteen-meter-tall LightningBruiser. Now imagine fighting one that's also a champion-level boxer.* Yoshimori in ''Manga/{{Kekkaishi}}'' is [[spoiler:left-handed but has been using techniques with his right-hand.]] Upon putting two and two together, he realized he could get a major boost in power and accuracy by [[spoiler:horizontally mirroring the techniques he's learned so he could perform them with his left hand instead.]]* Triela on ''Manga/GunslingerGirl'' takes extra combat training after losing to [[BadassNormal Pinocchio]] despite her cybernetic implants.* [[OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Tsukune Aono]] of ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' was infused with vampire blood and [[OurGhoulsAreCreepier turned into a ghoul]]. This resulted in a lot of [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] against monsters that were expecting a wimp... and a lot of curb-stomps from monsters who ''weren't'', due to his status as UnskilledButStrong. Five volumes into ''Season II'', [[SplitPersonality Inner Moka]] started training him in martial arts to use in tandem with his ghoulic power. This goes [[TrainingFromHell about how]] [[TookALevelInBadass you'd expect]].* In ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'', the big problem most combat mages face is the fact that they are {{Squishy Wizard}}s. Evangeline gets around this both through her natural toughness as a vampire and mastery of the perfectly mundane martial art aikido (it's implied that she learned from [[OldMaster Morihei Ueshiba himself]]), which she uses to great effect whether in magical or non-magical battle. Negi takes a page from her book and begins learning martial arts as well as powerful magic, which serves him very well in his battles.* In ''Manga/CodenameSailorV'', Minako picks up martial arts [[TaughtByTelevision from the videogame Artemis created as a training tool]] and [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower physically reinforces herself while desperately working to lose weight]]. It allows her to make short work of powerful youma, and it pays off even more in the ''Manga/SailorMoon'' manga, where at one point [[TheBigGuy Makoto]] gets [[BrainwashedAndCrazy brainwashed in attacking Usagi]] and Minako [[CurbStompBattle brutally trounces her]] [[SingleStrokeBattle with one kick]]. And Makoto is the one with SuperStrength. Also in the manga, all the Sailor Soldiers are trained with the simulator, becoming more competent and developing {{Charles Atlas Superpower}}s too.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comics]]* ComicBook/{{Superman}}** The {{Trope Namer|s}} is the comic book ''Superman vs UsefulNotes/MuhammadAli'', where Ali teaches Franchise/{{Superman}} to box. {{Justified|Trope}} since for plot reasons, they'll have to fight [[PowerNullifier under a red sun]] where Supes will be BroughtDownToNormal; Ali trains Superman in a special gym in the Fortress of Solitude that can similarly neutralize Superman's powers.** Also, it has been stated multiple times that Superman has taken fighting lessons from [[Franchise/{{Batman}} one of Earth's greatest martial artists]] as well as [[Franchise/WonderWoman Earth's greatest warrior]].** ComicBook/MartianManhunter has taught him techniques to help him resist mind control as that had been a problem for him.** He has learned Kryptonian martial arts as well. No, really. The son of Mongul also taught him a few things about fighting in an EnemyMine situation.** In general, Superman's status as '''the''' superhero and his extensive history means he has the epitome of TaughtByExperience going for him.*** In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths'', he remarks that he's more or less superior to [[EvilCounterpart Ultraman]] simply because he spends most of his time taking on the biggest threats in the 'verse, i.e. people who are stronger than him, so his skill as well as his strength is constantly tested.*** He also tells Ultraman this in Trinity, stating that because he doesn't kill his enemies, he's constantly in action, unlike Ultraman who doesn't really need to work his skills that much.** PreCrisis, a {{ComicBook/Superboy}} story had Pa Kent give a few boxing lessons to his super-son, after Superboy initially fails to stop a powerful new villain (and Pa realizes Clark had never really learned about such self-defense/fighting methods). * This is one of the whole points to the ComicBook/XMen: teaching mutants the ideal ways to use their individual powers to best help or defend mankind.** ComicBook/KittyPryde learned martial arts from ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} himself, in addition to being an [[{{Intangibility}} Intangible Woman]].** Wolverine is himself an example, having learned Japanese martial arts (including sword) well after he'd first exhibited his regeneration and superior senses. Depending on the continuity, it might even have been after he'd received the adamantium.** Elixir from ''ComicBook/NewXMen'' studied biology because his powers allowed him to alter organic tissue at will. He also got all of Beast's medical knowledge telepathically implanted into his mind. Beast being the world's foremost expert in biochemistry.** ComicBook/{{Storm}} was taught by ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}, not only to fight, but also how to use a gun. [[BroughtDownToNormal Good thing too.]]** Comicbook/{{Psylocke}} is a borderline example; while she has martial arts skills in addition to her PsychicPowers, and has the ability to use her powers and martial skills in unique ways, this was granted to her in an impossible FreakyFriday fashion, and not something she learned herself. Kwannon, the woman whose body she inhabits, is this trope played straight, as a low-level empath who trained to become an expert assassin.* During ''Comicbook/PlanetHulk'', the Comicbook/IncredibleHulk becomes a gladiator in a planet with beings who approach him in sheer physical might, so he slowly but surely becomes a craftier fighter, using his strength in more ingenious ways instead of merely relying on it exclusively. The other Marvel "[[NiceJobBreakingItHero heroes]]" were in for a ''rude'' awakening during ''Comicbook/WorldWarHulk''.* ComicBook/{{Magneto}}** After discovering his powers, but before becoming SelfDemonstrating/{{Magneto}}, Max Eisenhardt studied numerous scientific fields, including mechanical and genetic engineering, as well as electromagnetic radiation. Because of this, Magneto is capable of instilling the mutant gene in ordinary people, creating DesignerBabies from genetic tissue, and building technological marvels (such as an orbiting base on an asteroid) that even [[ScienceHero Reed]] [[Comicbook/FantasticFour Richards]] admits are pretty impressive.** However, he is first and foremost a physicist, and naturally chose to specialize in electromagnetism and everything to do with it. Since his mutant power gives him control over the entire electro-magnetic spectrum, his scientific knowledge turns an already formidable mutant power into a full-fledged GreenLanternRing- electromagnetism is one of the four fundamental forces of the universe, and knowing this and knowing just how few limits that really imposes on him makes SelfDemonstrating/{{Magneto}} one of the most powerful bastards on Marvel Earth and the sheer range of things he can do- up to and including opening interstellar wormholes and manipulating electrons to control even non-metals (e.g. wood)- is absolutely mind-boggling to the layman who doesn't appreciate just how broken his power can be. He wouldn't be near that powerful if he didn't understand, in detail, the myriad ways his power works like that.** A good example of how important this is comes in the form of Magneto's youngest daughter Polaris...who has identical powers but none of his scientific expertise. This results in her being ''far'' less effective at using her control over magnetism.* More justified than usual in one issue of ''Comicbook/SheHulk'' when Shulkie is in training to [[TheBoxingEpisode box]] the Champion of the Universe. She weightlifts as her human alter ego because she realises that increasing her strength as a human has a '''geometric''' effect when she [[HulkOut Hulks Out]].* Once, Beast Boy of the ComicBook/TeenTitans was seen watching Creator/AnimalPlanet to learn more animal forms he could turn into, and also what inherent powers he could gain from them.* Discussed in ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', in which Peter states that he's been getting by on pure luck and reliance on his powers. Mary Jane then suggests he learn martial arts.** His classic universe counterpart finally did get some martial arts training from Captain America and Tony Stark tried to mentor him. The Ultimate version ''did'' try to take lessons from them as well but... Between Tony being more interested in just hanging out with Spidey in his lab and Cap being an enormous asshole, it didn't go quite as well. *** And he got some lessons from ComicBook/ImmortalIronFist... which allowed him to do a BulletCatch.*** Having lost his Spider-Sense at one point, he realized how much he depended upon it in battle, so he accepted an offer to train under Shang-Chi, one of the Marvel Universe's greatest martial artists. Shang-Chi helped Spider-Man develop a unique fighting style called "The Way of the Spider", that incorporates Spider-Man's strength and agility. And then in ''ComicBook/SpiderIsland'', he regains his Spider-Sense and ''combines'' it with the Way of the Spider.** Like Superman above, Spider-Man's vast history and being completely TaughtByExperience means he did develop extensive street-fighting experience. * One issue of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'' had ComicBook/CaptainAmerica acting as a DrillSergeantNasty and teaching several teammates--both supers and {{Badass Normal}}s--how to use martial arts. He tells them they'll thank him later. Years later, Comicbook/{{Hawkeye}} did--posthumously.* ''Comicbook/IronMan''. Tony Stark, unable to access his armor for the time being, goes to [[Comicbook/CaptainAmerica Steve Rogers]] to learn how to fight during the Demon In A Bottle story arc, under the pretense of being more vulnerable to his enemies now that his "bodyguard" Iron Man won't be able to protect him. It comes in handy when Stark is captured by Justin Hammer and his goons.-->'''Justin Hammer''': Have you any questions?-->'''Tony Stark''': As a matter of fact, I do. I'd like to know if this guard here knows what a clavicle is.-->'''Guard''': Huh? Well, uh... no.-->'''Tony Stark''': Surprise! It's what I just broke!* One issue of the ''Franchise/GreenLantern Corps'' had Kyle Rayner encounter a situation in which he could not challenge Sinestro without breaking a truce that kept a fragile peace. Kyle proposed that the two fight as normals--without ''any'' {{Green Lantern Ring}}s. Sinestro accepts, brags that he had been trained by some of the greatest martial artists in the known universe, and asks Kyle who trained ''him''. Kyle's reply? Franchise/{{Batman}}. In a two-page splash, no less.* ''ComicBook/{{Gen 13}}''. Caitlin Fairchild had SuperStrength and superhuman agility and speed, but in one issue Sarah Rainmaker started to teach her how to fight.* In ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}'', ''not'' learning how to fight has major consequences for [[spoiler:Cassidy]], who - despite being [[spoiler:a vampire]], stronger and faster than a human could ever be - finds that Jesse, who suffered through a protracted bout of TrainingFromHell and is quite a CombatPragmatist, can hold his own when they go toe-to-toe. Jesse himself has a lack of training in one area - he doesn't speak French (or any language other than English), which turns out to be a bigger problem than you might imagine when your sole superpower is a CompellingVoice and you need to speak a language your target understands for it to be effective.* In ''Comicbook/{{Irredeemable}}'', not ever learning how to fight and relying only on his strength alone come back to bite [[spoiler:Plutonian]] hard, when somebody equally strong, who knows some moves, showed up.* The entire point of ''[[ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative Avengers: The Initiative]]'' and ''ComicBook/AvengersAcademy'' is to invoke this trope.* ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}** Not only does she have all the powers of [[Franchise/{{Superman}} her cousin]], she has had training in both unarmed and armed combat. By ComicBook/WonderWoman and the Amazons. Unfortunately, most writers tend to forget this.** In the ComicBook/{{New 52}}, while her training with the Amazons has been {{retcon}}ned away, Supergirl has been taught martial arts as part of her schooling on Krypton, although she's far from an expert.* When Franchise/WonderWoman lost her powers for a while in the 70's (the period when she wore the white [[CatSuit catsuit]] instead of her normal costume), she trained under a martial arts master to help compensate.* In Franchise/TheDCU, Wildcat is a BadassNormal pro boxer, and considered one of the hero community's go-to guys to get lessons from. The list of people he trained is like a Who's Who of DCUNiverse {{Badass Normal}}s: Franchise/{{Batman}}, ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} I & II, ComicBook/BlackCanary II, Wildcat II & III, and ComicBook/{{Starman}} (Jack Knight), among others.* In the ComicBook/{{New 52}}, the new [[ComicBook/TheRay Ray]] studies up on light after getting his powers in order to make himself effective with them.* Subtly mentioned in various X-Men titles, like the X-Men Evolution note below, [[ComicBook/{{Cyclops}} Scott]] has learned various skills to compensate and enhance his power. He specifically trains to fight so that he doesn't lose his visor, has learned to fight blind and remember where his visor fell, and is a master of applied geometry. The latter has resulted in Wolverine owing Scott a truckload of beer over billiards.* The original ComicBook/{{Firestorm}}, whose powers involve molecular transformation, has studied chemistry to make them more effective. Particularly notable in that he's a jock who does not find study easy.* ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}}. His power? Being able to copy any move that he can physically perform as well as the guy he watched. The skill he later picked up? Teaching what he knew.* In depictions where Comicbook/DoctorStrange didn't [[KungFuWizard learn the martial arts]] at the same time he learned magic, he picked them up later (often with the help of Wong) so that he could defend himself even without magic.* In ''[[Creator/CrossGen Mystic]]'', the Seven Spirits get fed up with Giselle's bratty party-girl attitude and quit helping her with magic, forcing her to learn about their schools of magic in order to actually earn their respect, and learn to use magic without them. In doing so, Giselle improves her own skills, builds new rapport with the Spirits, and [[CharacterDevelopment takes a few levels in maturity]], ''all'' of which make her more effective down the road.* In ''Comicbook/{{Legion of Super-Heroes}}'', several Legionares take up training in various ways. Night Girl's super strength only works in the dark, so she learned martial arts so she could still take on bad guys in the light. Princess Projectra was taught martial arts by Karate Kid, which allowed her to kill Nemesis Kid after he negated her powers.* One side story in ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'' has Robo supplement his Buick-hefting raw physical power with combat training from Bruce Lee, [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower a man who has to wear boxing gloves to protect the BULLETPROOF ROBOT he is fighting]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]* In ''Fanfic/GameTheory'', Nanoha learns staff fighting so that she can use her Device as a melee weapon in magical combat.* The central premise of ''FanFic/DuelNature'' is giving these to Twilight Sparkle and watching what happens.* In ''FanFic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', Professor Quirrell advocates this for his students.-->'''Quirrell''': Most wizards do not bother much with what a Muggle would term martial arts. Is not a wand stronger than a fist? This attitude is stupid.* Lelouch spend a few months training Ichigo in ''Fanfic/SoulChess'', explaining to the latter that UnskilledButStrong only gets you so far. Ichigo himself notes afterwards that he no longer [[BeamSpam spams]] Getsuuga Tenshou and acquires considerably fewer injuries in most fights.* In the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', Sam underwent concentration training in order to keep her newly developed [[PlayingWithFire fire powers]] under control. It had the bonus of making her ecto constructs more refined.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* In ''[[Film/IronMan Iron Man 2]]'', Tony is shown practicing "mixed martial-arts" (actually [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty Dirty]] [[GoodOldFisticuffs Boxing]]) against Happy Hogan. Later, when he and Rhodey get into a fight, the lessons actually come in handy because Tony is more used to fighting in PoweredArmor and is actually able to hold his own against the military-trained Colonel Rhodes despite being drunk.* Bruce Banner in ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' is using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lessons to help him control his rage issues, possibly even to induce and control the Hulk, as suggested by his {{Love Interest|s}}, Betty.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]], Jaina Solo asked Boba Fett to train her in Jedi dispatching technique and Mandalorian attitude (including being a CombatPragmatist) to prepare for her final duel with Darth Caedus.* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': One of Harry Dresden´s '''many''' [[TookALevelInBadass levels in badass]] involves him learning basic martial arts and quarterstaff fighting from Murphy, as well as running periodically so he has options other than blasting things in the face. This pays off whenever he's fighting someone who his magic is ineffective against, or humans, who he can't use magic against without risking breaking [[ThouShaltNotKill the first law of magic]].** Harry also notes that teaching his apprentice gave him a much better appreciation for the basics of magic he himself learned and took for granted, as well as gaining proficiency in areas of magic he's weak in (like illusion magic, which his apprentice excels in).** The investigative skills he acquired as apprentice to a ''detective'' frequently prove more useful than the ones he'd picked up as a student wizard.** Harry takes up lock-picking as physical therapy for his burnt hand, then uses it to conserve his magical energy and cause less property damage while breaking into places covertly.* Pewter-burners in the ''{{Mistborn}}'' books burn their metal to gain inhuman levels of strength, speed and stamina. However, this only lasts as long as the metal supply, and the power works independently of the burner's body - as in, they don't suddenly sprout muscles. Pewter-burners like Hammond instruct the main character, Vin, of the benefits of honing one's body without pewter to increase one's strength while using it, developing fighting skill alongside these abilities, and using pewter tactically for powerful strikes instead of turning it on all the time in a fight and flailing your limbs.* In ''Literature/WearingTheCape'', Hope Corrigan gains the [[FlyingBrick Atlas-type]] power set, enabling her to outfly jets, bench-press buses, and take direct hits from military ordinance. So the first thing she does is go into intensive, fight-club style training so she has a chance against all the '''other''' Atlas-types out there.* In ''Literature/{{Liar}}'', Micah was born being able to run abnormally fast. Then she gets taught proper running technique and is able to run that much faster and more efficiently. She's actually almost disgusted when she sees someone like her without technique and hopes she didn't look that bad before she learned.* The third book of the ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' series is partially about Septimus learning to become a physician while trapped in a time past. This becomes useful upon his return to his time to control an epidemic.* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Harry, Ron and the Weasley twins can pick locks the Muggle way. * In the Literature/AnitaBlake series, characters with SuperStrength, SuperSpeed, and {{Shapeshifting}} still utilize weight training, powerlifting, and bodybuilding--which gives them an edge against characters with similar powers.* Asha'man in ''Series/TheWheelOfTime'' learn swordfighting alongside channeling. Rand (himself one of the most powerful channelers alive and eventually a blademaster) insists it be included in the curriculum specifically because magic isn't always an available option.* More literally, Loup of Santa Olivia dedicates herself to her boxing training in order to defeat another person with the same superstrength as her, but who hasn't trained because he's coasting by on his (un)natural abilities.* In the short story ''Kid Cardula'' by Jack Richie, the vampire boxer has to spend time learning ''not'' to OneHitKO his opponents and how to convincingly fake getting knocked down in order not to look like a BoringInvincibleHero to the audience.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]* In an episode of ''Series/NoOrdinaryFamily'', Jim Powell (who has SuperStrength) confronts another guy who has also gained that superpower, and gets his ass handed to him because the other guy actually knows something about fighting. So that it doesn't happen again, sidekick George teaches Jim a few of the basics of boxing, and Jim wins the second round.* On ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', Claire demands that her dad, a BadassNormal, teach her how to fight and defend herself. So he hands her a 2x4 and teaches her a stance.-->'''Claire''': What is this, kung fu?-->'''Noah''': No, it's [[BatterUp baseball]].* In one episode of ''Series/LoisAndClark'', Superman took a crash course in kung fu to face off against a martial artist who had stolen a mystical artifact that multiplied his strength. The martial artist yielded after realizing he couldn't beat Supes (who now has strength ''and'' technique), although only after his teacher told him to do the honorable thing.* In ''Franchise/SuperSentai,'' several series have an episode that focuses on the featured Ranger trying to learn the mundane skill the MonsterOfTheWeek uses a weaponized version of - more than once, it's actually boxing.* In ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'', Billy ends up taking martial arts lessons from Jason once he becomes the Blue Ranger. It really doesn't start to show until the second season.* After the events of the [[DownerEnding Season Eight finale]] of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', Kal-El declares his Clark Kent persona dead and leaves for the Fortress of Solitude to begin training under Jor-El in earnest. It pays off the next season as he's BroughtDownToNormal more than once and has to rely on skill rather than his powers.* Gen Ootori in ''Series/UltramanLeo'' learns various techniques (mostly kung-fu-based) to better fight giant aliens and kaijuu.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]* In the official ''{{Champions}}'' setting, the French supervillain Venin Vert studied chemistry so as to be able to use her powers (she can produce poisons from her hands) more efficiently.* There are several RPG systems, for example the ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'', where the die roll for activating supernatural powers is tied to mundane skills. So improving the mundane skill (e.g. Persuasion) also makes the supernatural power (e.g. Summoning) more effective. * Similar to ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'' is ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', also published by White Wolf and using a similar system. Most Exalted charms (magical powers) are directly tied to mundane abilities, and such charms have prerequisite rankings in those abilities. So an Exalt cannot, for example, learn the most powerful magical sword techniques unless he is already a master of non-magical swordplay.** The power theme of the Solar Exalted in particular is excellence through abilities. They are the strongest of the Exalted by pushing their mundane skills to superhuman levels, allowing them to do things like fire an arrow as far as they can see, turn invisible, or taste the presence of a flavorless poison in a glass of wine because the poison dilutes the wine.** While less thematically resonant as for Solars, other Exalt types also often benefit from mundane skills. Abyssals (formed from corrupted Solar Exaltations), Dragon-Blooded, and Sidereals also have ability prerequisites for their charms, and often require ability rolls to activate them. [[ImpossibleThief Larceny, for example, can be used to steal someone's surface thoughts or their love]].* In TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons and TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}, monsters generally have superpowers as part of their innate nature. However, intelligent monsters might actually begin learning to be more effective by studying the same classes as a PlayerCharacter might. Depending on the edition of the game, this can result in them suddenly becoming far, far more threatening. In one notorious instance, a succubus who went from ChaoticEvil to LawfulGood took up being a Paladin, using her already superior physical abilities, natural resistances and spells, lengthy list of skills, and ungodly Charisma to become a very deadly enemy indeed. Her intrinsic fiendish nature (evil subtype) also protects her from attacks that target good-aligned characters, the bane of many paladins.** In the [[UpdatedReRelease Anniversary Edition]] for the "Rise of the Runelords" adventure path, the Lamia Harridan went from being a super-rare, super-special kind of lamia to an upgraded form (template) that affects any Lamia that gains at least 10 levels in a divine spellcasting class.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* In ''Videogame/{{Mabinogi}}'', player characters gain stat points from training skills, including noncombat skills. This leads to players training, for example, the Weaving skill to use the Dexterity it rewards to help in combat. This also works in reverse, as some noncombat skills benefit from higher stats that can be gained by training skills, including combat skills.* The post-prologue beginning of the first ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' game suggests briefly that Isaac, Garet, and Jenna were learning about Alchemy from Kraden to understand their powers better. Isaac's mother is baffled, since [[TheMagicGoesAway Alchemy itself is a dead power]] [[spoiler:and supposed to remain that way, in theory]].* This could apply to ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' as well. For example, you can teach one of your Pokémon how to swim and thus teach it a useful water attack.** Played straight by Effort Values, tiny stat boosts gained by fighting other Pokémon. Simply fighting random Pokémon and gaining EXP would yield a powerful monster, but with specialized EV Training focusing on specific stats, a Pokémon can yield monstrous gains in a stat.** Also to the players that use them. A person can just go through the game, train his Pokémon to level 100, and beat his friends. Unless one of his friends knows how to play competitively, and battles with EV trained, IV bred Pokémon with competitive move sets. * In ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'', following his conversion into a {{cyborg}}, Adam Jensen undergoes therapy to help him cope with his new cybernetic body. Part of the therapy includes Jensen teaching himself how to build and repair clocks, in order to relearn precision control of his new prosthetic hands. This is based on actual physical therapy techniques. He still occasionally slips up, as shown in the trailer, where he's poured himself a shot of whiskey and the glass is shown to be slowly covering in cracks from his tight grip.* Pool Powers, [[LiteralMetaphor most literally]] the Fighting Pool in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', are one way characters can get some extra skills. Temporary powers are another.* In ''VideoGame/{{Academagia}} The Making Of Mages'', the character is a student at a WizardingSchool, but they also train in mundane skills to enhance and supplement their magic. For example, a student at Avila, the college of [[WindsOfDestinyChange Astrology]], is also required to study Geometry, because mundane Astronomy classes are part of the Geometry curriculum, and knowledge of mundane astronomy can assist in learning about magical astrology.* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicII'' both Kreia and the Mandalorians note that most Jedi aren't particularly skilled at anything, and their only advantage is their connection to the Force that gives them their abilities. They train the Exile to not rely on the Force to provide her abilities, but to hone a more mundane skill and use the Force to augment it. The Handmaiden also teaches the Exile hand-to-hand combat. In return, [[spoiler:you can train her as a Jedi]].[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]* One of the points of {{Magellan}} Academy.* Webcomic/{{Spinnerette}} gets trained in kickboxing by Mecha Maid. Despite Spinnerette's SuperStrength, she got beat up by a supervillain with no combat abilities (at the time)... and by an ordinary mugger.* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', the Cleric and vampire Malack was taught martial arts, making him a good hand-to-hand fighter without his magic, especially with his vampiric strength.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* In the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', the super-heroic Geomancer discovered his power to manipulate rock and stone while he was still in high school. He later went to college and earned a doctorate in geology (with a minor in geochemistry) specifically to improve the usefulness of his powers.* Used a lot in the {{Super Hero School}}s in ''Literature/TheDescendants'' where power creativity is an actual class, on top of self defense.** Chaos learned boxing at the Academy, only to learn it's not as useful in superheroics. Cue a succession of TrickedOutGloves to make it useful.** Once he developed the power to convert one elemental metal into another, Alloy took a bunch of chemistry classes. Later, he's seen to use lithium to create a FlamingSword.** Characters have occasionally been mocked for [[GenreBlindness not doing this]].* Arguably the entire ''purpose'' of [[Literature/WhateleyUniverse Whateley Academy]] is to churn these types of characters out. Specifically, there are seven different martial artists, all of different schools, who teach classes. Students have to take either beginning aikido or 'Survival' for a Physical Education credit. Special classes teach everything from 'team tactics' (think Spec Ops applied to superheroes) to designing a costume to understanding how not only ''your'' power works but also how your opponent's power works. This seems to be much more effective at creating ''criminals'', however, in light of the success of such [[CardCarryingVillain card-carrying villains]] as Lord Paramount, Gizmatic, and Mimeo. Given the significant support they get from the supervillain community, and their general neutrality policy, though, this suits the school just fine. * Quite common in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' -- this is one of the standard benefits of The Wards, the US's superhero organization for minors.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* A villainous example occurs in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague''. Shade, who has a nightstick that [[CastingAShadow creates shadows and manipulates them]], is essentially rendered powerless without it. Batman beats him this way the first time. When it comes time for a rematch and Batman uses the same tactic, Shade sucker punches him, having taken lessons in preparation for this sort of thing. He still got his ass kicked, of course, but at least he learned.* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', after being humiliated by Black Canary with a judo toss, ComicBook/{{Superboy}} begrudgingly takes private fighting lessons. The results start showing less than two episodes after.* The Disney version of ''{{Disney/Hercules}}'' had Herc go to Phil for training. He already had SuperStrength, but Phil taught him how to use that strength in a real fight, along with other skills like archery and swordsmanship.* Used in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution''. Most of the younger mutants who are used to training in the danger room with Wolverine are disappointed when Scott and Jean are the only teachers left at the institute and would rather teach them geometry and physics. Of course, they change their minds when Scott shows them he can ricochet his laser eyes around a room to hit a moving target.* In a cold open of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', it is revealed that Batman taught Dr. Fate how to box in case his helmet was ever removed.* Discussed but not used in ''WesternAnimation/IronManArmoredAdventures''. When Tony has trouble with an agile villain, Rhodey suggests he might need to learn kung fu. Tony complains that he already has a highly-expensive suit of PoweredArmor.* ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes''. Tony and Steve have a disagreement over the march of technology. Steve insists that the mundane ways are useful, leading to a boxing match, with [[CurbStompBattle exactly the result you expect]]. Hulk and Hawkeye are in the audience watching Steve Rogers punch Tony Stark in the face and [[SingleStrokeBattle floor him with a single shot]]. Tony complains in his armor he would [[AwesomenessByAnalysis know every move Steve would make before he makes them]]. Which leads to Tony DramaticallyMissingThePoint, as Steve's entire intention was to show that knowing how to personally defend yourself will never, no matter how far technology advances, become obsolete. Tony doesn't see what Cap means. Apparently the lesson was not lost on him, as we see in the next season that the training is continuing:---> '''Tony Stark:''' And hey, I only blacked out the one time.---> '''[[spoiler:Skrull]] Steve Rogers:''' If that's the way you choose to remember it...* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'' everyone from the planet Tamaran has superhuman strength; however, Blackfire complements that by also knowing some Tamaranean martial arts. Also, Cyborg's mechanical body wouldn't be nearly as awesome if he weren't also a mechanical genius able to repair and upgrade it.* {{Deconstructed|Trope}} [[PlayedForLaughs for Laughs]] in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'', when Robin begins getting very frustrated at the others for relying too much on their powers and dares them to not use them for 24 hours. After seeing how effortlessly they do so, he straps himself to a multitude of bombs at the end of a grueling obstacle course that they breezed through earlier to try to get them to break the dare. They insist on going powerless, and because of that, they don't make it in time. [[DisneyDeath Luckily, it turned out to just be an android strapped to those bombs]].[[/folder]]